Simple Charger hacks - USB adapters

[Shaik Corso]

Another easy one that anybody can do... I found myself with many leftover female USB connectors so a quick trip to Value Village yielded up some DC adapters. 5V 2A adapters are plenty to run our chargers or passthroughs (and most other things too).

With either one of these I can charge batteries in the car or off the wall, or even use a passthrough. With it being a normal USB plug on the end you can also charge other USB devices from them.

Super simple hack to do - cut off original plug and solder the USB plugs +/- to the +/- ends on the wire. Shrink tube or whatever the connection and you are done. On the 12V car adapter I went right to the board inside, this is not something you have to do, I just did it for the sake of cleanness.

You should be using a multi meter to find your +/-, not all companies use red and black for that. Reversing your polarity is a bad thing....

So two adapters for about $3.50 each....

 

[mogur]

Hey, Shaiko, good one. I'm hard pressed to find female usbs on a cord, but great idea on the thrift stores. They have a billion types of cords for a buck or less.

 

[Shaik Corso]

Hey, Shaiko, good one. I'm hard pressed to find female usbs on a cord, but great idea on the thrift stores. They have a billion types of cords for a buck or less.

Thanks man. I use USB extension cables from the dollar store. They are actually pretty good build quality and give you both the male and female ends. I don't know if the Dollar General stores in the States carry them, but the Dollarama here has them in multiple colours (I use black only). I think they cost $1.25 these days.

 

[Adeem]

Where do you get a DC adapter for the car with the proper output rating? (5v 2a)

 

[Shaik Corso]

Where do you get a DC adapter for the car with the proper output rating? (5v 2a)

I actually think 2A is probably overkill, but too much amperage won't hurt anything since the atty only pulls what it needs. This one is 2 amps and it is for an XM radio receiver. Basically just read the sides of the adapters you find until you come across one of the right voltage/amperage.

 

[kabomb]

I juet ordered 2 ac ones and 1 dual port for the car from dealextreme for under $4 each with free shipping. Must be at least 1000mA. PT works with my iphone charger which is 1000mA. Using a PT is so much better and I don't worry about always charging batteries.

 

[Shaik Corso]

I juet ordered 2 ac ones and 1 dual port for the car from dealextreme for under $4 each with free shipping. Must be at least 1000mA. PT works with my iphone charger which is 1000mA. Using a PT is so much better and I don't worry about always charging batteries.

Thats cool. So what are you making out of them?